Aging Family: The Impact Of Holiday Visits
During the holiday season, 72 million Baby Boomers visited their aging parents. Some were shocked at the changes and at their parents' resistance to their offers of help. Just when they were looking forward to time as "Empty Nesters" and their own retirement needs, they were faced with this new responsibility. Phone calls through the past year might have alerted the adult children to changes, but could not adequately prepare them for the experience of concern, fear, helplessness or even guilt over the holidays.
Linda Fodrini-Johnson, MFT, CMC, Professional Geriatric Care Manager and CEO of Eldercare Services in the San Francisco Bay Area, gets a flurry of calls from adult children who don't know where to begin getting help for their parent. Ms. Fodrini-Johnson says that this burden, after a visit, can be life changing and can negatively impact the health of all.
Without the guidance of a professional with expertise in geriatric care, families at a crossroad can spend frustrating hours looking for answers or debating about needs with other family members. Some adult children are reluctant to intrude because mom or dad is socially appropriate. Social graces often remain even in mid-stage dementia.
If you observed any of the following on your holiday visit, a consultation with a Certified Professional Geriatric Care Manager could save you many hours and much stress:
- Memory impaired
- Medications managed poorly
- Personal care ignored
- Home maintenance neglected
- Bills unpaid
- Mobility creating difficult
- Resistance to suggestions
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Appointments missed
- Word finding or conversation increasingly difficult
- "New friends" who could take advantage of a parent
- Problem solving ability reduced - i.e. Groceries vs. medicine? Not balanced choices
A comprehensive assessment is imperative to see if some of the observed changes could be reversed with medical or social interventions.
Eldercare Services is a comprehensive professional Geriatric Care Management and Caregiving company that serves the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.
Eldercare Services
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